On Wednesday the 29th of June, Secret Street Tours embarked on its first ever media tour!
We decided to do both an in-person tour with some representatives from various travel agents, media outlets and educational institutions and we also streamed it online so it was available for all our supporters around the world.
Left to Right Shane and Kenny the Secret Street Tours Walking Tour Guides Speaking in the grounds of Collins Barracks Dublin
We were so pleased and humbled by the amazing response we got, and before we begin telling you about our tour - we would like to say a very big thank you to those who came and also to those who tuned in and virtually walked around Dublin with us! We hope this gave you a small insight into what we do and our amazing tours, and we hope you will join us again.
Our tour was led by the ever wonderful and hilarious Kenny and Shane, who began by giving us a historical insight into the streets we walk every day. They walked with us and spoke openly about their lives on the streets, and what each area of Dublin meant to them personally.
These streets that we pass by without a second thought can often be where some lay their head to rest at night, or spend most of their day on. It was truly moving to be able to hear their stories and how far they both come.
“I used to pitch a tent in by the wall.. I didn’t like sleeping in the City Center..”
Shane and Kenny accompanying the tour tour guests through the streets of Dublin
The walking tour was an amazing way to see Dublin and also learn some of the history behind each place. Embarrassingly, I was shocked with how little I knew, being a “Dub” myself.
As we strolled down the streets of Dublin, we were captured by the stories Kenny and Shane told us about their lives.
They shocked us with facts about the homeless population of Ireland, about how the figures that are published about the amount of homeless in Ireland are actually only a small representation of those living without homes. If you’re couch surfing, if you’re sleeping in parks at night you’re not represented in these numbers. So while we think we have an idea of the (extremely high) number of homeless people in Ireland, that figure is actually a lot higher.
“If you’re sitting on a bridge with a cup, there’s not many people who will stop to talk to you… you’ll notice it yourself, you could be sitting on the bridge, there could be five six hundred people walk past you.. not one of them. Everyone has a story”, Shane told us.
The tour gives you a wonderful insight of what it is truly like to live on the streets. It was really refreshing and insightful being able to walk along the streets of Dublin with both Shane and Kenny and ask them questions I have always been wondering.
“What I’m trying to say is that it can happen to anyone, that's the reality”
What We Do
We are a nonprofit social enterprise that trains those affected by homelessness to become walking tour guides of their city, empowering them with skills and a platform to tell their story.
Our training focuses on developing the confidence of our guides through workshops on public speaking and customer service. We partner with professional tour guides to design our routes.
Our Tours offer a unique, socially responsible and entertaining experience as our guides share with you their connections to the streets of Dublin.
Apart from our guides, every single person working for Secret Street Tours is a volunteer, so you can be sure your money is going straight to the amazing tour guides!
Our impact
By booking our tours you are supporting Dublin’s homeless community in many ways!
The price of your ticket provides an income to our guides and helps them save for long term goals (such as educational courses)
Listening to our guides gives a voice to a community that is so often talked about rather than listened to.
Engaging with Dublin’s homelessness crisis helps us to create awareness of this critical social challenge.
Sharing your experience helps us scale, empowering more guides to tell their stories.
Networking with our guides helps us unlock their potential.
What can I do to help?
There are many ways in which you can support Secret Street Tours. You can take one of our tours here to experience Dublin alongside one of our fantastic guides.
You can support us by making a donation or make a regular donation by becoming a patron here.
Sharing our Tours with friends and family or on social media is another great way to spread the word about the work we are doing.
We would like to also say a huge thank you for your ongoing support and contributions.
Written by Molly Hunt 30th June 2022
